The Grammar Stage Writing Program; Developing the Classical - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

The Grammar Stage Writing Program; Developing the Classical SkillsSlide2

The students study, memorize, and practice the structure of good writing, emphasizing:

ClarityVivid impressionRelevanceA relaxed natural style that represents faithfully the thing being describedSystematic organizationDescriptive, not persuasive; no student voiceCorrect mechanics, grammar, etc. Neat presentation (including handwriting)- From Dr. Whalen

Goal of a Classical Writing Program in the

SoGSlide3

1. Conventions

HandwritingPunctuationGrammar2. CopiaClear and beautiful expression of ideasAbility to “play” with words; just as students know multiple ways of making 10 in math, they should know multiple ways of stating an idea to be able to find the best way for a given situation.

Basic Skills We PracticeSlide4

3.

Facilitas (the capacity to produce appropriate effective language in any situation)Progymnasmata (14 styles of writing)Students memorize the structure of different styles as they get olderThe goal is to develop the ability to choose the appropriate writing style for different situationsTo begin, students copy and imitate the teacher’s writing; this gradually becomes guided writing and finally is done independentlyTeachers emphasize listening, speaking, and reading skills that support or stem from writing skills

Basic Skills We PracticeSlide5

Kindergarten

Handwriting (printing)PhonogramsBeginning sentence structure (capital letter to start, end punctuation, space between words)Retelling storiesBasic Convention Skills by Grade LevelSlide6

1

st GradeHandwriting (printing)Sentence structure; declarative, imperative, interrogativeConnecting grammar (nouns, verbs, etc.) to sentence structureCapitalization rulesComplex sentences with “and, if, but”.Introduce paragraphsRetelling storiesBeginning summarizing (looking for main idea)

Basic Convention Skills by Grade LevelSlide7

2

nd GradeHandwriting (printing)Sentence structure; simple and compoundUsing adjectives and adverbs to create strong sentencesFriendly letter formatSummarizing in paragraph formatAnswering questions with complete sentences that use words from the original questionSimple paragraph format; topic sentence, at least 2 supporting sentences, concluding sentenceEditing skills; punctuation, spelling, basic grammar

Basic Convention Skills by Grade LevelSlide8

3

rd GradeHandwriting (printing and cursive)Review correct punctuation and sentence/ paragraph formatUsing adjectives, adverbs, and conjunctions to create strong sentencesEditing skills; punctuation, spelling, grammar, clear and accurate detailsSentence fluency (length, non-repetitive word choice, etc.)Imitate some historical writing (diary entry, letters, etc.)Beginning outliningIntroduce essay structure

Basic Convention Skills by Grade LevelSlide9

4

th GradeHandwriting (cursive)Using adjectives, adverbs, and conjunctions to create strong sentencesSummarizingEditing skills; punctuation, spelling, grammar, clear and accurate detailsUnderstanding and showing cause/ effect (using signal words)Imitate some historical writing (legends, speeches, etc.)Essay structureConducting research before writing an essay; not plagiarizing

Basic Convention Skills by Grade LevelSlide10

5

th GradeReview using adjectives, adverbs, and conjunctions to create strong sentencesSummarizingEditing skills; punctuation, spelling, grammar, clear and accurate details, complete thoughtsUnderstanding and showing cause/ effect (using signal words)Imitate some historical writing (speeches, etc.)Essay structure with strong thesis statements and clear supporting details in all subjectsConducting research before writing an essay; not plagiarizing

Basic Convention Skills by Grade LevelSlide11

How to Help with Building Convention Skills

Lots and lots of practice; we aim for authentic practice, though worksheet exercises are also used for instruction and practice with specific concepts.2. Writing is strengthened by good reading; emphasize endmarks, paragraph structure, etc.3. This year we’re starting to do some practice with dictation exercises. Though not every student will do these at school, they’re GREAT for review at home.Slide12

How to Help with Building Convention Skills

4. Help students edit their own work by looking for only 1 thing at a time.Checklists are very helpful.Encourage students to read their writing out loud or even listen to someone read their writing out loud.If students are consistently making (or missing) the same errors, they haven’t mastered something and need more practice.Remember that it is MUCH harder to edit your own writing.Slide13

How to Help with Building

Copia Skills1. Use accurate and specific language and explain terms rather than simplifying the language. (“suffix” instead of “word ending”)2. Encourage synonyms and homonyms and explore how they change the meaning of a sentence.This fits well when learning parts of speech in Grammar.3. Describe people, places, actions, etc.This is a great way to review in History, Science, Music, Phy

. Ed., and Art.Slide14

How to Help with Building

Copia Skills3. Older students could try Erasmus’ letter exercises.“Your letter pleased me greatly.”“Your epistle was an incredible joy to me.”4. Write Grammar “Mad Libs”. Or do any Mad Libs. 

My (subject noun) was sleeping quietly.

My dog was sleeping quietly.

My Loch Ness monster was sleeping quietly.Slide15

How to Help with Building

Copia Skills5. Highlight beautiful writing or language that’s already a part of your daily life.Favorite books and poemsFamily storiesCommon quotes or sayingsSongsSlide16

How to Help with Building

Copia Skills6. Although it takes time and practice to get students used to thinking copiously with words, Temperance is also important.“The aspiration to copia is dangerous.” – ErasmusStop kids who add words just for more words sake.Slide17

The

ProgymnasmataThe 14 writing styles:Fable Narrative (Story)Chreia (Explanation about a wise person or choice)Proverb Refutation (Argue against)

Confirmation (Argue for)

Commonplace (More detailed description of something or someone, highlighting a virtuous or

unvirtuous

aspect)Slide18

The

ProgymnasmataThe 14 writing styles continued…Encomium (In praise of someone virtuous)Vituperation or Invective (Against someone unvirtuous)ComparisonImpersonation (A character monologue explaining a choice)

Ekphrasis

(Description)

Thesis or Theme

Defend/ Attach a LawSlide19

Facilitas

The knowledge that writing, reading, speaking, and listening skills are tied to each other. Practice in one area helps all of them; weakness in one area affects all of them.Slide20

Facilitas

Teachers highlight exactly what they want to see from students when they listen, speak, read, or write. Some of the most common expectations are:Tracking the speakerPostureStand to answer questionsEye contact with your listener(s) or the speakerTrack text with a finger“Clock” positions for letter formation

When are students

beautifully

doing these things? How will they know?Slide21

How to Help with Building

Facilitas/ Progym. SkillsRead a lot, talk a lot, listen a lot, and write a lot. Model what good behavior looks like.Remember that instruction is imitation and modeling, followed by exercises to built the knowledge, and only then do students begin to compose their own.Slide22

In Conclusion…

The Grammar Stage writing program is devoted to teaching and practicing numerous writing skills in every subject to make them as automatic as possible.The framework of the progymnasmata is used to structure writing and lead to more logical and rhetorical writing in the upper grades.Slide23

In Conclusion…

to Build Mastery of Writing SkillsThink of practicing writing skills like you think of practicing basic facts in math:They must be practiced daily until mastered.They’re either correct and automatic or they need more practice.You don’t practice only addition, just like we shouldn’t practice only punctuation or other mechanics.Writing skills go through the same development process as learning math concepts.Apply writing skills in all subjects just as you use math facts in other areas.Slide24

In Conclusion…

Finally, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions about the goals of the Grammar Stage writing curriculum.Becky Lundblund@novaclassical.org